Andy McLaren

{{About|the 1990s and 2000s footballer|the 1940s and 1950s footballer|Andy McLaren (footballer, born 1922)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| image = Andy McLaren 2018.png

| caption = McLaren in 2018

| name = Andy McLaren

| fullname = Andrew McLaren{{Hugman|12731|accessdate=5 March 2017}}

| height =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|6|5|df=y}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| position = Winger

| years1 = 1989–1999

| years2 = 1999–2000

| years3 = 1999

| years4 = 2000–2003

| years5 = 2003–2005

| years6 = 2004–2005

| years7 = 2005

| years8 = 2005–2006

| years9 = 2006

| years10 = 2007–2008

| years11 = 2008

| years12 = 2009

| years13 = 2009

| clubs1 = Dundee United

| clubs2 = Reading

| clubs3 = → Livingston (loan)

| clubs4 = Kilmarnock

| clubs5 = Dundee United

| clubs6 = → Partick Thistle (loan)

| clubs7 = → Greenock Morton (loan)

| clubs8 = Greenock Morton

| clubs9 = Dundee

| clubs10 = Ayr United

| clubs11 = Lesmahagow

| clubs12 = Pollok

| clubs13 = Petershill

| caps1 = 164 | goals1 = 11

| caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 1

| caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 0

| caps4 = 83 | goals4 = 13

| caps5 = 33 | goals5 = 4

| caps6 = 9 | goals6 = 0

| caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 3

| caps8 = 34 | goals8 = 7

| caps9 = 12 | goals9 = 3

| caps10 = 18 | goals10 = 3

| caps11 = | goals11 =

| caps12 = 1 | goals12 = 0

| caps13 = | goals13 =

| nationalyears1 = 1993

| nationalyears2 = 2001

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21{{Cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=216|title = Scotland U21 Player Andy McLaren Details}}

| nationalteam2 = Scotland

| nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Andy McLaren (born 5 June 1973) is a Scottish former professional footballer. He began his career in 1989 with Dundee United where he was for 10 years{{cite web|title=Andy McLaren: Tormented|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/10/19/andy_mclaren_feature.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 June 2014}} and was part of the team when they won the Scottish Cup in 1994. He had trouble with cannabis and cocaine and spent time in rehab before returning to football in June 2000.

He now drives an Uber

Career

McLaren, a winger, began his career in 1989 with Dundee United where he remained for 10 years, helping them win the Scottish Cup in 1994. He left Tannadice for English club Reading in 1999 and during his spell had a brief loan spell at Livingston. On returning to Reading, he tested positive for cannabis and cocaine and admitted to alcoholism.{{cite news|url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=762712003|publisher=Scotland on Sunday|title=Life's a ball as Hibs target McLaren gets his highs from game by Moria Gordon|date=13 July 2003}}

After spending time in rehabilitation, he returned to football in June 2000 when he was signed for Kilmarnock by the then manager Bobby Williamson. During his time at Rugby Park, he won his only Scotland cap, a substitute appearance in a 1–1 draw against Poland in April 2001.{{cite news|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/match_details.cfm?matchid=25643|publisher=Scottish FA|title=Poland 1–1 Scotland|date=25 April 2001}}

He left Kilmarnock in August 2003 after rejecting a new contract and returned to Dundee United. He played for one season at Dundee United team, before being loaned to Partick Thistle and Greenock Morton before joining Morton permanently in 2005. After a season at Cappielow, he joined Dundee in July 2006.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee/5168730.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=McLaren agrees switch to Dundee|date=11 July 2006}} In his side's defeat at Clyde on 16 December 2006, McLaren was sent off for aiming a blow at a Clyde player, before getting a second red after striking another opponent on the way off the pitch. Once into the dressing rooms he received his third red card for kicking a hole in the door of the referee's room.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/6177747.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Clyde 2–1 Dundee|date=16 December 2006}} As a consequence of his actions, Dundee decided to release him from his contract on 20 December 2006.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee/6190087.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=McLaren and Dundee part company|date=20 December 2006}}

In February 2007, McLaren signed for Ayr United on a part-time deal until the end of 2006–07,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/ayr_united/6349007.stm|title=Banned McLaren joins up at Ayr|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=10 February 2007}} scoring on his début a month later. McLaren was released from Somerset Park in May 2008, and in August 2008 spent a few games on trial at Bathgate Thistle,{{cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/No-Bathgate-deal-for-McLaren.4471342.jp|title=No Bathgate deal for McLaren|last=Bonthrone|first=Mark|date=9 September 2008|publisher=Edinburgh Evening News|access-date=2008-10-20}} before a short spell at Lesmahagow and a short trial at Pollok, whom he left on the back of yet another red card. McLaren joined Petershill in 2009.

On 12 May 2016, McLaren signed for Tynecastle F.C. as a player-coach.

{{Cite web |url=http://www.thejuniors.info/2016/05/tynecastle-reveal-new-backroom-set/ |title=Tynecastle Reveal New Backroom Set up – the Juniors |access-date=13 May 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617162729/http://www.thejuniors.info/2016/05/tynecastle-reveal-new-backroom-set/ |url-status=dead }}

Personal life

McLaren gave a positive drugs test in 2000 during his time at Reading and was immediately banned from football. After receiving treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/10/19/andy_mclaren_feature.shtml|title=Andy McLaren: Tormented|date=19 October 2007|publisher=BBC Berkshire|access-date=2008-10-20}} McLaren returned to football with Kilmarnock, continuing to receive treatment upon returning to first club Dundee United in 2004. Upon signing for Morton permanently in 2005, McLaren admitted to then manager Jim McInally he had suffered from abuse as a child, which had led to his drug and alcohol problems.{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/tm_headline=lowest-of-the-low&method=full&objectid=19833726&siteid=64736-name_page.html|title=Lowest of the Low|date=23 September 2007|work=Sunday Mail|access-date=2008-10-20}} He later announced he had considered suicide, including crashing into a lorry at 80 mph.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7009018.stm|title=What the Scottish Sunday papers say|date=23 September 2007|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2008-10-20}}

McLaren's life is detailed in his autobiography, Tormented, where he chronicles his abuse as a child. As highlighted in his autobiography, Andy wanted to help young people avoid the pitfalls that have affected his life and career, he delivered presentations and talks to young people on his life both in and out of football.{{cite web |title=Plaudits for unique youth scheme |url=http://www.localnewsglasgow.co.uk/tag/andy-mclaren-founder-of-am-training/|publisher=Local News Glasgow|access-date=17 June 2014}}

Career statistics

colspan=3 \| Club performance ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Season	Club	League ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals
colspan=3 \| Scotland ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Scottish Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
1991–92	rowspan="8"\|Dundee United	rowspan="4"\|Scottish Premier Division	13	0	colspan="2"
\|3	0	colspan="2"
\|16	0
1992–93	5	0	1	0	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|6	0
1993–94	27	2	4	1	4	1	1	0	36	4
1994–95	19	0	colspan="2"
\|1	0	2	0	22	0
1995–96	Scottish First Division	34	3	colspan="2"
\|2	0	colspan="2"
\|36	3
1996–97	rowspan="2"\|Scottish Premier Division	34	3	6	2	1	0	colspan="2"
\|41	5
1997–98	27	4	3	0	4	0	4	2	38	6
1998–99	Scottish Premier League	8	0	3	0	1	0	colspan="2"
\|12	0
colspan=3 \| England ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| FA Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
1998–99	rowspan="2"\|Reading	rowspan="2"\|Football League Second Division	7	1	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|7	1
1999–00	2	0	colspan="2"
\|2	0	colspan="2"
\|4	0
colspan=3 \| Scotland ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Scottish Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
1999–00	Livingston (loan)	Scottish First Division	9	0	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|9	0
2000–01	rowspan="3"\|Kilmarnock	rowspan="5"\|Scottish Premier League	32	6	3	0	5	2	colspan="2"
\|40	8
2001–02	26	2	1	0	1	2	3	0	31	2
2002–03	25	5	1	0	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|26	5
2003–04	rowspan="2"\|Dundee United	30	4	1	0	2	1	colspan="2"
\|33	5
rowspan="3"\|2004–05	6	0	colspan="2"
\|2	0	colspan="2"
\|8	0
Partick Thistle (loan)	Scottish First Division	9	0	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|9	)
Greenock Morton (loan)	rowspan="2"\|Scottish Second Division	12	3	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|12	3
2005–06	Greenock Morton	34	7	2	0	1	0	colspan="2"
\|37	7
rowspan="2"\|2006–07	Dundee	Scottish First Division	12	3	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|12	3
rowspan="2"\|Ayr United	rowspan="2"\|Scottish Second Division	9	2	colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|colspan="2"
\|9	2
2007–08	8	1	colspan="2"
\|1	0	colspan="2"
\|9	1
rowspan=2 \| Total ! colspan=2 \| Scotland !369\|\|45\|\|25\|\|3\|\|28\|\|6\|\|10\|\|2\|\|432\|\|56
colspan=2 \| England !9\|\|1\|\|0\|\|0\|\|2\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|11\|\|1
colspan=3 \| Career total !378\|\|46\|\|25\|\|3\|\|30\|\|6\|\|10\|\|2\|\|443\|\|57